San Miguel is a stratovolcano located in El Salvador at an elevation of 2,130 meters, situated within a subduction zone and continental crust setting greater than 25 kilometers thick. According to official records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a confirmed total of 41 eruptions spanning from the 16th century CE to the 21st century CE.
Historical Eruption Record and Chronology
The earliest recorded eruption in the Smithsonian dataset occurred in 1510 CE, with a start year uncertainty of 5 years. Historical documentation shows that activity continued across subsequent centuries through reported observations.
The distribution of confirmed eruptions across centuries demonstrates varying levels of recorded activity over time:
- 16th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption
- 17th century CE: 1 confirmed eruption
- 18th century CE: 3 confirmed eruptions
- 19th century CE: 9 confirmed eruptions (including an event on the WSW flank at a 1,000-meter elevation spanning December 1867 to February 1868 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2.0)
- 20th century CE: 17 confirmed eruptions (including events such as the 1954 eruption)
- 21st century CE: 10 confirmed eruptions
Intensity and Recent Activity
Of the 41 confirmed eruptions, 40 have assigned values under the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which measures the relative size of explosive volcanic eruptions. The largest recorded VEI for San Miguel is 3.0. For example, an eruption originating from the summit crater between December 29, 2013, and July 28, 2014, reached a VEI of 3.0.
More recent activity includes an eruption that began on November 15, 2022, with a VEI of 2.0, and concluded on May 27, 2023. The official profile records the last known eruption year as 2023, while the latest structured structured eruption period in the database started on November 15, 2022.
Frequently asked questions
When was the earliest recorded eruption at San Miguel?
The earliest recorded eruption for San Miguel is from 1510 CE, with a start year uncertainty of 5 years.
How many confirmed eruptions has San Miguel had?
San Miguel has a total of 41 confirmed eruptions recorded up to the 2023 event.
What is the largest recorded VEI for San Miguel?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for San Miguel is 3.0.
Image credits
- Krissiadamarisvj — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.